USB booting :: Just bought a PNY pen drive for DSL...



First post :p I've been using Linux for about 18 months, and like what I've seen of DSL, especially as a possibly more secure means of private communications (SSH, Web, etc. on other PCs), so I would like to experiment further.

My wife just bought me a PNY Attache 256Mb USB pen drive (which I chose - it was the only "famous name" drive in the store) as an early CHristmas present, and I would like to install DSL on it, either the bootable or embedded version (or both, if possible).

I should've read this forum a bit more, as when I came back home I found here that PNY pen drives sometimes won't boot with DSL. Maybe it's only with certain motherboards or BIOSes, but if there's a good chance I won't be able to get a bootable system on the PNY drive (and a better chance of other makes of drive working), then I wonder if I should take the PNY back to the store and look elsewhere.

I would rather not open the packaging before I hear from people's experiences here, as it's easier to take the drive back to the store if it's untouched. In short, what do you think: Should I stay or should I go? :)

Many thanks for your thoughts...

Tim
I've got exactly that problem - a PNY Attaché thats seems to only be recognised every now and again (on two different systems - one Windows, the other Linux).

I'd take it back if I were you - I've only had mine a few days so I should be able to get a refund/exchange (I hope)
Yeah, if you want reliable, grab a Sandisk or Kingston. They usually do pretty good.

Just stay away from Lexar. They are flakey.

-J.P.
The drive is still unopened, so I'll try taking it back. I've always had a good experience of Kingston (well, I worked for them a few years back :D ), but they don't seem to sell direct to stores much, at least in the UK.
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Just stay away from Lexar. They are flakey.

I have first-hand experience of this :( I had a Lexar JumpDrive Pro 256Mb drive for a while, and one day it just stopped working - unable to mount, recover data or anything. Thankfully there wasn't anything important on it, but I don't think I'll risk a Lexar again.

Fingers crossed - I'll post back here at a later date with any important updates, though my wife's expecting our first baby any time now, so I may be some time :p

Many thanks for your suggestions, and happy Christmas!

Tim
Took the PNY back to PC World and swapped it for a Disgo and some DVD+RW blanks - at least that way I have something to show for events...  :)
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